Hinduism

Question 1

Aryans meaning

Answer 1

“Noble people” in Sanskrit

Migrated to India 1800-1500 BCE

Question 2

When did the Indo-Aryan migration take place?

Answer 2

1800 to 1500 BCE

Question 3

Who is Purusha?

Answer 3

In the Rig Veda, Purusha is a primordial being who was sacrificed by the gods so all life forms including humans could be created. Each different body part of Purusha became the different varnas (castes)

Cosmogonic Myth

Question 4

Varnas and Purusha’s body parts

Answer 4

Mouth - Brahmins
Arms - Kshatriyas
Legs - Vaishyas
Feet - Shudras

Question 5

The caste of Teachers and Priests

Answer 5

Brahmin

Question 6

The caste of Rulers and Warriors

Answer 6

Kshatriya

Question 7

The caste of Peasants and Merchants

Answer 7

Vaishya

Question 8

The caste of ruling kings (a later addition to the system, the highest level)

Answer 8

Rajas

Question 8

The caste of laborers, the lowest caste

Answer 8

Sudra

Question 9

What is Karma?

Answer 9

Action, and the consequences of action

Question 10

What is Moksha?

Answer 10

Liberation, the desired escape from samsara

Question 11

What is Atman?

Answer 11

Eternal Self, true inner Self, a person’s soul

Question 12

What is Samsara?

Answer 12

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

Question 13

What is Maya?

Answer 13

Illusion, the distorted view of the world

Question 14

What is Dharma?

Answer 14

Duty, the duties of your caste/varna

Question 15

What does Varna mean?

Answer 15

“color” in Sanskrit, meaning caste or class

Question 16

What is Jiva?

Answer 16

the observable, material self, empirical self

Question 17

What is Karma yoga?

Answer 17

A way of works, focused on following and completing your dharma
~ The code of Manu ~

Question 18

What is Bhakti yoga?

Answer 18

A way of devotion, focused on worshipping the deities of Hinduism
~ The Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita ~

Question 19

What is Jnana yoga?

Answer 19

A way of knowledge, “the way of wisdom”
focus on studying Hindu philosophy and the relationship between Atman and Brahman
~ The Upanishads ~

Question 20

What is Brahman?

Answer 20

• The ultimate reality of the world
• The holy power of prayer
• The stanzas of the Rig Veda
• Sacred knowledge, holy word, incantations

Question 21

What is the ultimate reality of the world?

Answer 21

Brahman

Question 22

What are the four Vedas?

Answer 22

• Rig Veda
• Sama Veda
• Yajurveda (Krishna and Shukla Yajurveda)
• Atharva Veda

Question 23

What does Veda mean?

Answer 23

“knowledge” in Sanskrit

Question 24

What is the Rig Veda?

Answer 24

- Oldest of the four Vedas - Means "Hymn Knowledge" - Contains ten mandalas (books) of 1,028 Vedic Sanskrit hymns

Question 25

What are the Upanishads?

Answer 25

- Means "to sit nearby" in Sanskrit - Texts regarding meditations, philosophy, and spiritual knowledge - Knowledge intended to be shared, passed down, and practiced with others - New sacred writings during the Axis Age - Conclude each of the Vedas - Emphasized the individual's inner experience

Question 26

What does Sannyasin mean?

Answer 26

Renunciant Someone practicing asceticism, and the last stage of life for men in the Code of Manu

Question 27

Law Code of Manu

Answer 27

A legal text from Ancient India that introduced many core concepts including: - the caste system - the basis for karma yoga - the four stages of life for men (four asramas)

Question 28

What are the four asramas? (stages of life in Code of Manu)

Answer 28

- Brahmacharya (student) - Gṛhastha (householder) - Vanaprastha (forest walker/forest dweller) - Sannyasin (renunciate)

Question 29

What does Sindhu mean and what words came from it?

Answer 29

Sindhu means "river" referring to the great Indus River These words: - India - Hindu (Hinduism)

Question 30

Who was Ashoka?

Answer 30

3rd King of Mauryan Empire 262 BC (3rd century BC) - controlled most of the Indian peninsula - converted to Buddhism after a bloody battle - sent missionaries out as far as Greece to spread Buddhism

Question 31

What is significant about the Harappan Civilization?

Answer 31

- Was an important agrarian center - Religious symbols found at Harappa still appear in modern Indian culture

Question 32

What is the Trimurti?

Answer 32

"three forms" - Brahma, the creator - Vishnu, the preserver -Shiva, the destroyer